By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions basketball team entered its final game before the holiday break still in search of their first District 10-2A win.

After dropping district games to Cisco and Hawley last week, the Lady Lions hosted Haskell on Tuesday, Dec. 20, losing 41-30. Details will be reported in the Jan. 5 edition of The Albany News.

“I feel like we’re at a standstill,” Lady Lions coach Tate Thompson said. “We’re still trying to find some roles for people and find a groove.”

By Sam Waller

Just five days after the Albany Lions won the Class 2A Division II state championship in football, eight athletes moved to the basketball court for a late start to the next sports season.

With one short practice to get the team ready, Albany played its first basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 19, losing to Haskell 44-37 at home in the District with their District 10-2A opener for both teams.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions dominated the District 6-2A Division II race on their way to winning a state championship.

They were rewarded for the efforts with 29 selections on the all-district team, selected by vote of the district coaches after the district schedule ended several weeks ago, but the team was not announced until after the Lions defeated Mart 41-21 on Wednesday, Dec. 14, in the Class 2A Division II state championship game.

By Sam Waller

In 1991, Clint Chapman quarterbacked the Albany Lions, coached by Denney Faith, to their first appearance in a state championship game since 1961.

In 2022, Cole Chapman did his father one better, quarterbacking the Albany Lions, still coached by Denney Faith, to their first state title since 1961.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions entered the 2022 football season ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 2A Division II.

Despite some bumps along the way, they lived up to that lofty billing with their 41-21 victory over the Mart Panthers on Wednesday, Dec. 14 at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium.

Four previous trips to the championship game under head coach Denney Faith ended in losses. Faith said the difference between state champ and state runner-up is often minimal.

By Sam Waller

Albany Lions head football coach Denney Faith finally has the one career achievement that had been missing from his resume – the same resume he has apparently not seen the need to update for more than three decades.

“I think it was the offensive line and the run game, just being able to dominate up front, then the defense not giving Mart anything.”

– Lineman Wyatt Beard

on the key to Albany winning the state championship

“It was our defense. We had to corral their running game and make Mart throw it down the field where our safeties could come up with some interceptions and get all the turnovers we could.”

– Linebacker Koy Cauble

on the key to Albany winning the state championship

By Sam Waller

The fifth time proved to be the charm for Denney Faith and the Albany Lions.

Behind an overpowering rushing attack and a stingy defense, the Lions claimed the school’s third state championship, the first under Faith, Wednesday, Dec. 14 with a 41-21 victory over the Mart Panthers in the Class 2A Division II final at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs basketball teams had a shorter week than expected last week.

After playing a doubleheader at Trent on Tuesday, Dec. 6, Moran was forced to withdraw from the Lueders-Avoca tournament over the weekend as a wave of sickness afflicted both teams.

“There’s not much you can do about being sick,” Moran athletic director and girls coach John Hughes said. “We did get a little work on the floor, some fundamental things and technique things we needed to work on. We did that mainly on Thursday.”

By Sam Waller

Moran Independent School District will close for the holiday break following classes on Wednesday, Dec. 21.

The school district will conduct a staff development day on Monday, Jan. 9 before starting the spring semester on Tuesday, Jan. 10. Classes will be held that Friday, Jan. 13, the last scheduled Friday classes for the school year.

Moran schools will be busy right up to the break, principal Jo Hise said. Two end of course exams were administered this week, while students and staff prepared for holiday programs.

Breakfast With Santa